Alternatives for Community and Enviroment Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ACE BUILDS THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS TO ERADICATE ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM AND CLASSISM, CREATE HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES, AND ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $4.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 15.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $171,782, ceo/executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (6)
- $2.2 million spent. NEW ENGLAND UNITED FOR JUSTICE (NEU4J) - ACE OPERATES A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING PROGRAM FOCUSED ON ADVANCING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND RACIAL JUSTICE WITHIN MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES.
- $377,179 spent. CLIMATE INTEGRATION - ACE HAS DEVELOPED A FRAMEWORK FOR LOCAL ACTION TO ADDRESS CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN HOUSING. THIS FRAMEWORK INTEGRATES SUSTAINABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES. THE KEY CHALLENGES INCLUDE CLIMATE HAZARDS (RISING TEMPERATURES, FLOODING, AND SEVERE STORMS) THAT THREATEN HOUSING STABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY. THE HOUSING SECTOR ITSELF CONTRIBUTES TO CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH RESIDENTIAL ENERGY USE AND LOW-DENSITY LAND USE PATTERNS.
- $333,696 spent. LEGAL SERVICES - ACE PROVIDES AN INTEGRATED SET OF SERVICES (LEGAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, NETWORKING, AND CAPACITY BUILDING) TO GROUPS WORKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN ITS REGION.
- $309,350 spent. ROXBURY ENVIRONMENTAL EMPOWERMENT PROJECT (REEP) AND ORGANIZING - ACE DEVELOPS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP AMONG NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH THROUGH AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CURRICULUM, LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND YOUTH-LED ORGANIZING PROJECT.
- $307,852 spent. INNOVATION - ACE IMPLEMENTS STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE AND REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND IMPROVE AIR QUALITY TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION. ACE SEEKS TO INCREASE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND STABILITY.
- $270,156 spent. POLICY - ACE RECOGNIZES THAT ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES AFFECT LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WORLDWIDE, AND THAT WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES AND YOUTH-LED GROUPS HELP TO STRENGTHEN OUR WORK AND MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.